Teach­ing kids about indige­nous cul­ture

CHIL­DREN want­ing to try a new ac­tiv­ity these school hol­i­days need to look no fur­ther than an indige­nous co­conut oil mak­ing demon­stra­tion at the Proser­pine Com­mu­nity Cen­tre today from 10am.

The hands-on ac­tiv­ity will be held in cel­e­bra­tion of na­tional Chil­dren’s Week which recog­nises the tal­ents skills, achieve­ments and rights of young peo­ple from Oc­to­ber 19-27.

Proser­pine Com­mu­nity Cen­tre co-or­di­na­tor Cathie Evans said it was ex­tremely im­por­tant for indige­nous chil­dren to have an op­por­tu­nity to learn about their back- ground and keep tra­di­tions alive.

Chil­dren will learn how to hull and husk co­conuts and strain the milk through pil­low cases to start the oil mak­ing process.

There will be a free co­conut­themed light lunch with a range of de­li­cious nib­bles avail­able to taste.

Giru­dala Indige­nous Fam­ily Sup­port rep­re­sen­ta­tive Vi­vian Mook will be run­ning the demon­stra­tion and other indige­nous lead­ers from the lo­cal com­mu­nity will also be in at­ten­dance.

Par­tic­i­pants will be able to col­lect their bot­tle of co­conut oil from the Proser­pine Com­mu­nity Cen­tre the fol­low­ing day. The demon­stra­tion is a free event and open to chil­dren up to the age of 18.